"Come to Life" is a song by American rapperKanye West from his tenth studio album,Donda (2021). The song features overlapping pianos and guitar chords, as well as asample of David Paul Moten'ssermon. The lyrics allude to the emotional fallout from West's divorce, while showcasing themes of liberation andGod. On the deluxe version, “Come to Life” features background vocals from American rapperTyler, the Creator.
An accompanyingmusic video was released on September 2, 2021. The video sees West being set on fire during the album'sSoldier Field listening party, before he reunites withKim Kardashian once he has been extinguished. In October 2021, West performed the song at awedding reception in Venice.
"Come to Life" is agospel song.[1] The instrumental features cascading, overlapping pianos and guitar chords.[2] Asample of David Paul Moten'ssermon is heard at the beginning, with it being used throughout the song. Moten later claimed that West and his team did not seek permission to use the sample prior to the song's release.[3][4] At the midpoint, a piano solo is introduced, reportedly performed by sixth-grader Zen Micheline Hung.[5][6][7] However, the credits for the song list Mark Williams as the performer.[8]
Lyrically, "Come to Life" features themes of liberation andGod, while alluding to the emotional fallout from West's divorce fromKim Kardashian.[9][10]Rolling Stone's Paul Thompson writes, "it makes you want to send a concerned party to his mansion".[11] West's vocals on the song are strained and high-pitched, with Rhian Daly fromNME describing them as "full of regret and desperation".[10]
The version of the song featured on the deluxe version ofDonda includes backing vocals from fellow American rapperTyler, the Creator.[12][13]
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On August 29, 2021, "Come to Life" was included as the 22nd track onDonda.[14]
Amusic video for the song was released on September 2, 2021.[15] The video features footage from the album's third public listening event atSoldier Field in Chicago on August 26, capturing West getting set on fire while sitting in a replica of his childhood home and wearing protective gear.[15][16][17] The home is also set alight, accompanied by onlookers watching the scene.[17] West then stands up and walks out, though remains covered in flames, before he is extinguished.[15][16] The rapper's then-wifeKim Kardashian slowly approaches the center of the stadium as she wears aBalenciaga wedding dress, reuniting with him for the video's conclusion.[15][16][17]Variety's Jem Aswad named West setting on fire and reuniting with Kardashian as "two of the more remarkable scenes" of the event,[18] while Laura Harding of theIrish Independent depicted the rapper as being "engulfed" by fire.[16] AtVulture, Bethy Squires compared West setting alight to the house in the filmBadlands (1973) and the main character of the essaysWhen You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008).[10]
On October 16, 2021, West performed "Come to Life" as part of his four-song set at thewedding reception forTiffany & Co. executive Alexandre Arnault and D'estree founder Geralde Guyot inVenice, Italy. During the performance, he wore a Halloween mask and a large suit jacket.[11]
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"Come to Life" received acclaim from music critics. Writing forVariety, Chris Willman praised the song, believing "it might be the best thing he’s ever done — certainly it’s the most beautiful". Calling it the most focused song onDonda, he praised how West "utterly drops the pride" in his lyrics "to focus on depression and humility, accompanied by cascading, overlapping pianos and guitar chords straight off a pure pop album… a great one."[19]
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